LeBron James opens up about his careful approach to managing injuries.
League insider Chris Haynes revealed the email he received from LeBron James outlining his ankle injury plan during a Tuesday appearance on “Inside the NBA.” James said he is going to approach the last stretch of games with caution.
James added, “To get to the finish line, I have to be very strategic and wise with how I manage my ankle/foot the rest of the season.” “Any queue that is in front of me.”
LeBron’s absence disappointed fans, and the Lakers’ blowout loss made their disappointment even worse. That being said, James and the crew have no regrets.
The game, which was supposed to be the main event of the evening, was postponed by the NBA superstar. To the chagrin of supporters, the game never moved along swiftly, and the Lakers’ chances were wrecked by LeBron’s absence.
Even though “the King” appeared healthy enough to play against the Pacers on Sunday, finishing with 26 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds in the Lakers’ 150-145 victory, he made it plain that his health comes first and that even the tiniest indication of discomfort will cause him to sit out of the game.
LeBron has played in 62 games this season and, like his co-star Anthony Davis, has been generally healthy. However, the Lakers’ current winning streak must continue until the postseason if they are to have any chance of winning the West.
The deck is set against LeBron to play his best going forward due to his advanced age and high mileage on his body. He is currently 39 years old. However, the Lakers may have a chance to spice things up when the postseason finally starts next month if he can reserve his energy for when they really need it.
The Lakers Have a Plan
The Lakers had intended to contend for a top-four seed heading into the season. Rather, they have struggled mightily the entire season merely to remain above the play-in queue. The Lakers are still just 9th in the West after having a strong second half of the season.
The Lakers are essentially guaranteed the ninth seed with less than a week until April arrives, so they will need to win multiple games to even be eligible for the opening round.
The Warriors, who have a team led by Stephen Curry, who may go off at any time, could be the opponent in the opening game. In order to move on and face the Nuggets in the opening round, they will need to defeat the Mavericks or Suns, if they are fortunate enough to win that game.
Given how close the Lakers are to missing out on the playoffs entirely, this is currently perhaps the best-case scenario for them. But now that their position has been established, LeBron James can just recuperate physically in preparation for the upcoming great battle.
If the Lakers are to have any chance against Denver, LeBron will need to be at his best; thus, the process of protecting himself and saving his best starts now, while there is still some room for error.
In any case, LeBron has earned the right to use his body cautiously after 21 seasons, and it is clear that the Lakers could benefit in the long run from it.